Structure and Dynamics of Drawn Gel‐Spun Ultrahigh‐Molecular‐Weight Polyethylene Fibers by 1H, 13C and 129Xe NMR

Abstract

AbstractChanges in morphology and chain dynamics of a series of drawn gel‐spun UHMWPE fibers were investigated by 1D and 2D 1H, 13C and 129Xe NMR spectroscopy. The dependence of the rms oscillation angle for the internuclear proton spin pairs around the chain axis can be evaluated from 13C/1H WISE and correlated with the Young modulus of UHMWPE fibers. Based on the novel 13C QUCPMAS method it was shown that the relative amount of orthorhombic, monoclinic and intermediate fractions increase with the Young modulus as opposed to the highly mobile amorphous phase. The chain dynamics of this last fraction becomes less hindered. 129Xe NMR spectroscopy shows that the volume‐average diameter of voids increases with the Young modulus and the production of nanovoids is accelerated in drawn UHMWPE fibers. magnified image